Portable prescription pad compendium with discount program reminder means

ABSTRACT

A portable prescription pad compendium with discount reminder program that facilitates distribution of prescription pharmaceuticals to patients and for encouraging initial and ongoing fulfillment of said prescription by patients.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable prescription pad compendiumfor physicians that has both blank prescription scripts and a selectionof preprinted scripts that aids in the dispensing of prescriptionpharmaceuticals, and further includes an accompanying discount programreminder means for enticing patients to enroll in a reminder programthat will foster ongoing refilling of a given prescription by offeringdiscounts to a patient.

2. Description of the Related Art

When physicians write prescriptions (sometimes known as an “Rx”), it ishandwritten by the doctor and the patient gives the script to apharmacist who then dispenses the medication in accordance with thehandwritten instructions therein. The difficulty arises, however, inthat the handwriting is often messy, illegible, or incomplete, and canlead to incorrect fulfillment by the dispensing pharmacist.

Furthermore, the current way in which a physician writes a prescriptionis also accompanied by another difficulty encountered when the physiciangives the patient samples of the drug to be dispensed. This approach toproviding complimentary pharmaceuticals can further introduce problemsinto the whole prescription provision process. For example, samples maybe lost or stolen at a doctor's office, or may become old or expired.Other times, it may simply be inconvenient for physicians to use samplesin their daily practice because of storage space and temperaturerequirements, or because it is distracting and inefficient to retrievethe samples in the course of a hectic day.

Lastly, the current approach to providing prescription medicines isfurther complicated by the epidemic problem of compliance with the termsof the prescription. Simply put, samples are only one-time inducementsto take a medication in the beginning of a treatment regimen, and do notoffer ongoing incentives for patients, especially for those patients whoare concerned about medication costs and may not refill theprescription. This dynamic in the current prescription fulfillmentprocess is particularly unfortunate: non-compliance in prescription drugtaking is putting an enormous strain on the health care system today.Estimates of cost to the United States economy range from 50 to as highas 100 billion dollars per year. It is estimated that 17 percent of allEmergency room visits are the direct result of a prescription drugmisdirection (non-compliance). Other results of non-compliance includehospital and nursing home admissions, as well as lost wages and lowerproductivity. Moreover, the most pressing aspect of non-compliance isreflected in the fact that compliance drops off dramatically when itcomes time to refill a prescription. It is known by insurance estimatesthat for ongoing prescriptions, after one year from beginning aprescription regimen, approximately 60% of patients no longer continuetaking or refilling the required medication. This represents anunhealthy dynamic that greatly costs both employers, insurancecompanies, and society at large, over time. As the population ages,non-compliance becomes a source for even more concern. Populationexperts say in the year 2003, 83 million Americans were over the age of50, and by the year 2010, that figure will be over 100 million. Inaddition, as prescription drugs become more expensive, and as governmentand employer funded coverage for such drug plans becomes lesscomprehensive, compliance becomes even more so of a concern for doctorswho are concerned about their patients following through withtreatments, as well as for insurance companies who wish to reduce theresulting costs of non-compliance, and also for patients who yearn for aless expensive form of compliance. Known compliance systems haveprovided for various methods of notification to ensure compliance.Various methods of such notification include pager systems or cable settop boxes for use in homes and adult care centers that may enable thebroadcasting of reminders. However, these methods are aimed at providing“strong arm” tactics, such as annoying messages on pagers, set top boxesand the like. As such, prior art systems do not address the root of theproblem in non-compliance, which is motivation, something which is oftencompromised by ongoing financial concerns associated with prescriptionfulfillment. While these systems may attempt to provide some form ofcompliance, none actually encourage or motivate a patient throughfinancial incentives to comply with a drug prescription on a sustainablebasis. Accordingly, no prior art system exists to assure realistic,long-term compliance in the taking of prescription drugs. Particularly,none of these systems provide both a means of notification and anincentive for a given prescription medication to be taken.

Moreover, there is a particular problem with distributing such systemsto patients. Without offering a convenient implementation to aphysician, some doctors may tend to forget or otherwise neglect to offerpatients such systems. Similarly, without ease of use and significantincentivization, patients will not accept such distributions fromdoctors, or otherwise will not regularly utilize them, thereby makingthe problem difficult at both ends of distribution.

In total, no system exists to address the combined shortcomings oferror-prone handwritten prescriptions, inefficient sample distribution,and the lack of assurance of long-term compliance in the taking ofprescription drugs. Moreover, no system offers solutions to all of theseproblems and means to motivate doctors to use a given system on a dailybasis, by providing a simplified way of error free prescription writingthat is practical, compact and convenient to carry around on theirperson throughout the day.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a systemfor enabling the error-free, compact, convenient dispensing of a widerange of prescriptions while providing a discount means for fosteringongoing patient prescription fulfillment, without the need to botherwith samples or complex fulfillment notification schemes.

Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the inventionwill be set forth in part in the description that follows and in partwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing, or may be learned with the practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in, and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention and, together with the general description given above, aswell as the detailed description of the preferred embodiment givenbelow, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an offset view of the inventive portable prescription padcompendium with discount program reminder means included therein, in aclosed position;

FIG. 2A is an offset view of the inventive portable prescription padcompendium with discount program reminder means included therein, in aopen position, showing an exemplary rendering of a front end of thecompendium which may have a generic (blank/non-preprinted) script padand a multiplicity of preprinted script pads each for a given drug andthe attendant discount means attached thereto;

FIG. 2B is an offset view of the inventive portable prescription padcompendium with discount program reminder means included therein in aopen position, showing an exemplary rendering of a back end of thecompendium which may have the remaining continuum of a multiplicity ofpreprinted script pads each for a given drug and the attendant discountprogram reminder means attached thereto; and

FIG. 3 is an exemplary rendering of the compendium depicting two of amultiplicity of preprinted script pads, each for a given drug, and theattendant discount program reminder means attached thereto partiallypulled away from the preprinted script to which it is attached so thatit may be detached as needed by a pharmacist, patient or otherindividual.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to portableprescription pad compendium for physicians that has at least a selectionof preprinted scripts that aids in the dispensing of prescriptionpharmaceuticals, and further includes an accompanying discount programreminder means for enticing patients to enroll in a reminder programthat fosters ongoing refilling of a given prescription by giving apatient discounts. The invention comprises a portable prescription padcompendium with discount reminder program means for prescribingprescription medications and for encouraging their subsequent usage.More particularly, the invention comprises a flexible wallet or booklethaving a central hinge or spine, and a multiplicity of preprintedprescription pads on dividers attached to the spine. The flexible walletcomprises a front cover, a back cover, and the spine connecting thefront cover and said back cover together, with each of the coversdefining an outer surface, and a corresponding inner surface on anopposite broad side thereof. Disposed between the inner surface of thefront cover and the inner surface of the back cover is at least onedivider that is affixed to the spine, and at least one preprintedprescription pad is affixed between the front cover and the back cover.Any given preprinted prescription pad has a plurality of preprintedprescription scripts, wherein each preprinted prescription script has afront face and a lower end so that a discount reminder program means canbe detachably affixed to each preprinted prescription script.Furthermore, a blank prescription pad having a plurality of prescriptionscripts is affixed between the front cover and the back cover, with eachpreprinted prescription scripts having a front face and a back face,upon which a drug name (and optionally, amount) on the front face mightbe printed. Detachably affixed (e.g., through a perforation, or asotherwise known in the art of printing) to each preprinted prescriptionscript at the bottom or lower end of the preprinted prescription scriptis the discount program reminder means, which can be tailored to thegiven drug of that pad.

According to one preferred embodiment, a portable prescription padcompendium for physicians that has both a pad of blank prescriptionscripts and a selection of different preprinted script pads that aids inthe dispensing of prescription pharmaceuticals that a given physicianmay commonly prescribe. Each different preprinted script pad furtherincludes an accompanying discount means that is tailored for thespecific drug to which a given preprinted script pad is directed. Thediscount program reminder means may take several physical forms as oneskilled in the art may well appreciate, but in one preferred embodiment,it may be a detachably affixed paper stub or coupon that may be detachedby the pharmacist or patient for use in enrolling the patient in theongoing reminder program as a condition of him receiving a discount,free sample, etc. depending on the particular drug. Of course, thediscounts and any applicable free samples that may be redeemed at thepharmacy may vary in terms of amount and method of delivery, as well asin terms of timing (e.g., scheduled mailings of coupons, etc. topatients down the road, etc.) Reference will now be made in detail tothe present preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

With ongoing reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 3, the portableprescription pad compendium 2 comprises a flexible booklet or wallet 4with a front cover 4 a and a back cover 4 c, and a flexible spine 4 bdisposed therebetween. At least one, and most preferably, a plurality ofdividers 7 are disposed between the front and the back covers 4 a, 4 c,and affixed proximate to the spine 4 b. The flexible booklet or wallet 4is preferably made of a flexible material such as plastic that may bendwhen put into a physicians clothes or lab pocket in such a way as not toinconvenience the physician with sharp, protruding edges. Each divider 7that preferably has a selection of different preprinted script pads 10affixed on either side of the divider 7. Each preprinted script pad 10is directed to a different drug that may be more commonly prescribedaccording to a given physician's practice or needs. For convenience,these particular drugs may be detailed on the flexible booklet or wallet4, by way of printing at front, back, and/or spine areas as needed. Inone preferred embodiment, a pad of blank (non-preprinted) prescriptionscripts 8 may be provided at a prominent, easily referenced section ofthe compendium (typically the back inner or front inner page of of theflexible booklet or wallet 4, so as to permit the physician to be ableto prescribe any other medications that may not be in the selectedcollection of commonly prescribed drugs preprinted on one of thepreprinted script pads 10, thus affording him the convenience ofpreprinted scripts for his most popular prescription, with theversatility of blank scripts that will permit him to disperse othermedications in the usual fashion in compendium 2. Provision of suchensures that the physician will view the compendium as a versatile,“one-stop” prescription tool to be utilized on an ongoing basis.

Preferably, the preprinted prescription pads 10 will each have their ownsubstantially stiff backing material such as thin, cardboard or plastic,so as to be able to affix themselves within the compendium 2 by slidinginto perforated slots (not depicted) within dividers 7. This will alsopermit the physician or other individual to insert within the compendium2 different or replacement preprinted prescription script pads asneeded. In one alternative embodiment, markings may be printed onoptional tabs (not depicted) extending from dividers 7 to aid in therapid identification of the particular medication preprinted on thesubject preprinted prescription script pads within compendium 2. Thedividers 7 will be molded or attached to the flexible spine so thatbulky pins, clips, or rings need not be utilized in attaching thedivides 7, thereby helping to ensure compactness in design, and so as toreduce sharp angles or protrusions when situated in a physician'spocket.

When provisioned as such, the any one of the multiplicity of preprintedprescription script pads will be facing in opposite directions from another preprinted prescription script pads within compendium 2. Withineach preprinted prescription script pad 10 there are a plurality ofpreprinted prescription sheets, or scripts 15. Within a particularpreprinted prescription script pad 10, each of the plurality ofprescription sheets 15 of the preprinted prescription pad 10 has apreprinted prescription format on a front face of the sheet for aparticular named medication. The plurality preprinted prescriptionscripts 15 within a given prescription script pad 10 are all identical.In a particular embodiment, the preprinted prescription scripts 15 mayinclude check-off boxes (not depicted) correlating to predetermineddosage options that can be checked off for the given prescriptionmedicine. For example, in a given preprinted prescription script, themedication will be clearly printed on the script along with a predefineddoseage or range of dosages/quantities that may be checked off, so as toavoid common errors that arise from fully handwritten prescriptions.Furthermore, the scripts will have preprinted identifying information ofthe prescriber (doctor name, address, phone number, etc.), zones forpatient name and address, etc., as well as various additional featuresthat may be printed, as needed, considering that the exact informationand format of the scripts (e.g., colors, watermarks, requiredsubstitution options, and the like) will need to be further provided foron the preprinted script as required by individual state laws.

In one embodiment, the discount reminder program means will be adetachable paper extension that is detachably affixed so as to extend,preferably from a perforated segmentation e.g., tearable perforation)along the bottom of each preprinted prescription script 15, so as tofacilitate the removal of both the discount program reminder means 12 bythe patient or pharmacist when the patient decides to opt-in to theongoing reminder program as a means of obtaining a discount and/or freesamples of the medication. This would permit separation of the discountprogram reminder means 12 from a given preprinted prescription script 15when filling a prescription. Much like the preprinted prescriptionscripts 15, the discount program reminder means 12 may have securityenhanced features such as water marks, unique tracking numbers, securitycodes, and the like for preventing fraud and/or improper reuse of thediscount program reminder means 12. Provision as such would mostpreferably be done so as to print a fraud-resistant, numericallysequenced unique tracking number that could be correlated with apatient, his data and his prescription needs (procured at an opt-in timeas will be described hereafter) so that each given fulfillment or usageat a pharmacy can be associated therewith (by a pharmaceutical benefitsprocessor, also described hereafter) and so that the patient can receivethe stated discount at the time of fulfillment.

Provision of the system in this manner offers several advantages. First,the inventive system eliminates the need for physicians to keep track ofunattached samples and the need to review expiration dates, or fordoctors to keep the samples stored in an accessible, climate controlledenvironment. Second, it provides better security by the centralizing allstorage and physical dispensing of pharmaceuticals at a pharmacy,thereby eliminating or reducing problems and costs associated withtheft, inadvertent loss, keeping stocks current, excess packaging, etc.Thirdly, when structured in the inventive manner, doctors who desire toerror-free preprinted prescription scripts will then be inclined to usethe all-in-one compendium described herein, rather than separate scriptpads. Particularly when made in a compact, light, flexible fashion, thecompendium as described herein is something which a doctor would bepredisposed to carry around with him through out the course of the day.

The fulfillment aspect of the present invention stems from thedistribution and use of the discount means and from that as described inrelated U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/865,491, and 10/881,708,hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In its broadestaspect, the encouragement of ongoing fulfillment emanates from a systemwhich provides for a prescription drug compliance and discount paymentsystem having at least one discount program reminder means 12 having aconfidential identification number, a solicitation means associated witheach discount program reminder means 12 for soliciting a patient consentand patient information, an activation means for receiving said patientconsent and patient information received from the solicitation means andfor activating a patient participation record related to theconfidential identification number, a processor means for receiving theconfidential identification number and for receiving a prescriptionfulfillment transaction, as well as for awarding incentives based onsaid receipt of each identification number and prescription fulfillment,to patients and participating businesses associated with each saidfulfillment transaction, and a compliance means for ensuring acontinuing of a prescription compliance of each said patientparticipation record.

Discount program reminder means 12 may also provide for a solicitationmeans through a contact gateway, that might be a toll free number or website for signing up (provided for those who might not wish to sign up bymail). Printed on discount means 12 is a unique identifier andtransaction code means for activating and tracking the discount cardusage. In order to facilitate widespread usage of the inventive systemthrough existing pharmacy networks, the numeric representation may besimply typed or otherwise entered into an existing pharmacy system forentering and processing secondary insurance-type information forprescriptions.

Accordingly, where a patient consents to enrolling in the discountcompliance program, his name, address, indication of consent, preferredmeans of receiving future reminders, and other information can bereceived through mail, email, or via phone, by an opt-in center (notdepicted) into a database (either through manual data entry input, orthrough form-based scanning as known in the art) in connection with thediscount program reminder means 12. The solicitation/sign up portionwill therefore, typically have a confidential identification numbercontained therein that can be recorded and retained for each subsequentuse.

After receiving consented notifications, the system can then make offersfor proper discount inducements on subsequent refills, so that thepatient will be more inclined to refill a given prescription.Accordingly, when the patient refills his prescription at a pharmacy,the system will then be able to correlate information from thesolicitation/sign up portion (already entered at pharmacy), and theresponse to discounts offered thereafter, preferably through thecoordinated efforts of a loyalty reimbursement program, opt-in centerand a pharmacy benefits processor, such that when the pharmacy benefitsprocessor receives from a pharmacy the residual confidentialidentification number that will accompany the transmission of theoccurrence of a prescription transaction being fulfilled by the signedupped patient, the confidential number will be used to retrieve storedinformation from the opt-in center, that can communicate in real time asneeded with the other participant entities by sending coded transactiondata and reimbursement information data to each other as applicablethrough regularized, instant transmission of transaction data. Based onthe sign up and subsequent fulfillment activity, the patient can beprompted to avail himself of the discount associated therewith byinternet (email) or phone notification, there will be an internet,cable, phone, or other type of preferred connection with the patient forreminding him to fill/refill his prescription. Unless prohibited by law,the pharmacy benefits processor will apply the discount immediately attime of payment at through an electronic credit authorized to thepharmacy. Patient, ideally motivated by the idea of incentives (e.g.,preferred discounts stated herein), together with his physician'srecommendation (most preferably from ongoing compliance feedback asdescribed hereafter), will therefore be inclined to participate, therebyhelping to ensure his subsequent (i.e., initial and ongoing) fulfillmentof the prescription.

Thereafter, the by virtue of the confidential identification number foreach transaction, the loyalty reimbursement program (via the pharmacybenefits processor), could correlate the date and time of theprescription being filled with the confidential identification number.The confidential identification number would enable the correlation byenabling a retrieval of the primary care giver name, address and phonenumber; patient name, etc. to both verify that a given discount is onlybeing used for one patient's medication, and to ensure that it has notexpired or exceeded the maximum allowable multiple discounts provided.Thereafter, if the patient does not refill the prescription after acertain number of reminder attempts, the physician may be notified, asneeded. Although one persuasive motivation for prescription fulfillmentby the patient is based on the discounts applied, notification of aphysician, as permitted, might additionally motivate the patient to bein compliance. Dates of non-compliance, as well as physiciannotification might, in certain embodiments, all be recorded in adatabase. Moreover, such notifications, as well as a broad picture ofpatient compliance for physicians, would offer further incentives tophysicians, who would be distributing such a system in the first place.As mentioned, to further incentivize participating doctors, informationregarding patient compliance may be aggregated to form broad pictures ofcompliance by groupings of patients. Such compliance might then be givento physician as doctor-specific feedback or other type of aninformational representation of doctor's patient base compliance.Provision of such information in this manner would be a benefit tophysicians for improving or understanding their own practice and/orpatient base, as well as for insurance and/or pharmaceutical businesspurposes.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be moreillustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and whichare susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts anddetails operation. These modifications are within the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

1. A portable prescription pad compendium with discount reminder programmeans for prescribing prescription medications and for encouraging theirsubsequent usage comprising: a flexible wallet comprising a front cover,a back cover, and a spine connecting said front cover and said backcover, each of said covers defining an outer surface, and acorresponding inner surface on an opposite broad side thereof; at leastone divider being affixed to said spine so as to be disposed betweensaid inner surface of said front cover and said inner surface of saidback cover; at least one preprinted prescription pad affixed betweensaid front cover and said back cover, and having a plurality ofpreprinted prescription scripts, each said preprinted prescriptionscript having a front face and a lower end; a discount reminder programmeans detachably affixed to each said preprinted prescription script ofsaid preprinted prescription pad; and a blank prescription pad affixedbetween said front cover and said back cover, and having a plurality ofprescription scripts.
 2. The portable prescription pad compendium ofclaim 1 wherein said at least one preprinted prescription pad is affixedto a one side of said at least one divider, and wherein said blankprescription pad is affixed at one said inner surface of one of saidcovers.
 3. The portable prescription pad compendium of claim 2 whereinat least one of said reminder program means is detachably affixed alongsaid lower end of said front of each said preprinted prescriptionscripts, so as to be detachable from each said preprinted prescriptionscripts by means of a tearable perforation means provided thereon. 4.The portable prescription pad compendium of claim 3 wherein saidplurality of preprinted prescription scripts are preprinted with a namedmedication on each said front face.
 5. The portable prescription padcompendium of claim 4 wherein said plurality of preprinted prescriptionscripts are preprinted on each said front face with at least onepredetermined dosage selection for said named medication.
 6. Theportable prescription pad compendium of claim 5 wherein said discountreminder program means has a stated discount for encouraging initial andongoing fulfillment of the prescription detailed on the accompanyingpreprinted prescription script.
 7. The portable prescription padcompendium of claim 6 wherein said discount program reminder means has aunique tracking number that is used for tracking subsequent fulfillmentof said prescription by said patient.